Depression Over Bay, Heavy Rains Predicted

VISAKHAPATNAM: The well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal which has been causing wide-spread rains in North Coastal Andhra has developed into a depression Wednesday. Under the influence of the system, Met authorities predicted more rains over the next three days. While the water bodies are brimming with rain water, several rivers including River Vamsadhara are in full spate. Officials have raised first level warning signal following increasing inflows into the river.

The well-marked low pressure area over South Odisha and neighbourhood has concentrated into a depression at 11.30 am Wednesday and now lay centred at about 40 km northwest of Titlagarh and about 160 km southeast of Raipur. It is likely to move west northwestwards during next 24 hours. The associated upper air cyclonic circulation extends upto 7.6 km above sea level, while the trough of low pressure on surface level runs from Chattisgarh to South Tamil Nadu across Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Rural areas in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam received heavy downpour over the past four days. Though the urban areas did not experience much rain, agency areas, received copious rain. Train services were partially affected along the Kirandul-Kothavalasa line but the railway authorities made all efforts and resumed services in Visakhapatnam district. Araku, Paderu and other parts of the agency, particularly those on the AOB received incessant rain over the past 24 hours. The State’s highest rainfall of 19 cm was recorded in Araku.

Due to the heavy rains, huge inflows were received into Vamsadhara river. On Wednesday afternoon, the river received more than 45,000 cusecs of water. Incessant rain in the upper catchment areas of Vegavati and Suvarnamukhi rivers has also resulted in huge inflows into the Madduvalasa project, forcing the authorities to open 14 gates and release 10,000 cusecs Wednesday afternoon. The Thotapalli reservoir in Garugubilli mandal in Vizianagaram district, too, is receiving 6,600 cusecs. The officials have opened four gates and released 4,900 cusecs downstream.

The Met officials have predicted heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh over the next three days. Strong surface winds speeding upto 45-50 kmph are likely along and off South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh from Westerly direction and South-Westerly direction respectively.

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